Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Monochromatic Challenge

This challenge was taken from one of Elsie Flannigan's Recipe Box cards, mom picked it out and it was fun but a lot harder then I thought it would be mostly because I had a hard time finding buttons - could you imagine my surprise going into Michael's and not being able to find buttons let alone orange buttons that I had to have for my challenge layout!

The challenge started differently for me in a lot of ways, not only have I never done a monochromatic page before but this was the first time I chose the paper I was going to use before I chose the photos and the story I wanted to tell. The fun orange paper with a hint of shimmer was perfect for Disney photos so what better pictures then my birthday outing with Ruth. Because the Challenge called for just one monochromatic page that didn't leave room for journaling I opted to do a bonus page. I cut the title out using the Cricut and inked the edges so it fit with the color scheme. The buttons I finally found at Joann's in their sewing section and went a little crazy and the flowers are Prima and I couldn't be happier with them and the way they match the paper.



I love my mom's page! She used a great picture of her and my Aunt Pat, she used a cream color scheme keeping it classy and stylish. The crackle painted chipboard and the touch of bling are my favorite elements! Mom told me in advance that she was sewing her buttons on and I told mom in advance that I would not be doing that - sometimes I get lazy even with something I love!



We are giving ourselves extra time on the next challenge as it is something out of the box for both of us but these challenges are about stretching our creative muscles right?

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Challenge Time!

It's challenge time! Time to update you guys on mine and mom's recent challenge layouts! This week's challenge was both really fun for me and really challenging. We used another sketch from the Scrapbooks, Etc. Page Planner book - this time we used page 54 and the idea was to print a larger photo and then overlap it with smaller photos.

I was all over the place when planning out this page, I didn't know what photos I wanted to use, really, I had too many ideas. Fina
lly I opted to just put together and page that went along with last week's Halloween themed page this way I could add them to my album side by side. For the large photo I used a photo I absolutely love but might not have made it into an album if it wasn't for this challenge. Because I love this photo so much I'm guessing Mike took it but I'm not 100% positive on that one. I love the fun angle and I love the glimpse of the Cinderella Castle in the background so you can clearly see where we are. I used some of the same papers as I used on last week's challenge layout and coordinating embellishments so I can tie both pages together. The pumpkin and "Spooky" are popped up to give the page a little extra dimension.



My mom used photos from a recent trip to Monticello. I love how she used her ticket on the page and fun embellishments like
the Jenni Bowlin journaling card and a Tim Holtz ticket. I always love when me and Mom do similar things in the challenge like we both continued on the themes of last week's challenge, we both backed the lower right photo.



Ok so that's this week's challenge, stay tuned as next week we are dipping into Elsie Flannigan's Recipe Box for a challenge that I'm finding, well, challenging!

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

I'm How Old??!!

It feels like just yesterday i was celebrating my 30th birthday and here I am at 33! How on earth did that happen??



This year I kind of took being spoiled and celebrating my birthday to the next level and instead of celebrating for a day my birthday snowballed into a week long celebration! There was dinner with Monika and Dave - Dave also just celebrated a birthday and I hope it was a very happy one! I really enjoy the little tradition we have now of celebrating our birthday today. On my actual birthday I spent the day with Ruth in Animal Kingdom, it was just too much fun, perfect weather, no crowds, lots of girl talk and laughing and a crazy amount of picture taking! I received an awesome present from my parents, a package packed with awesome scrapbooking goodies!! I can't wait to get creating with all this good stuff.





Now Mike had spilled the beans and told me we were spending a weekend at Disney's Port Orleans Resort, French Quarter which I was absolutely over the moon excited about and under the impression that this stay was my gift and rightfully so - and then a package came and inside the most beautiful necklace!! My husband is far too good for me! Our weekend was amazing, just relaxing, full of good food and just togetherness, walking hand in hand and talking without the distractions of the TV and our laptops getting in the way. And really enjoying the feeling of being away even though we were someplace we can really go anytime we like. We had a fabulous dinner, I was sung to and given balloons and I felt spoiled, special and at times like a little girl. Not sure how Mike could possibly top it next year but I'm willing to bet he's going to try!







Now that I'm 33 and have been for 8 days - ACK! - I should set some goals for the next year. So here are the top 3 things I hope to make happen before I hit 34.

1. Get healthy! Of course I want to lose weight, eat better and exercise more but I also want to make sure I visit all my doctors and make sure everything checks out. I have spent far too much time neglecting my health.

2. Create, create, create! I want to complete lots of craft projects and do some redecorating around the apartment and hopefully finish the first draft of my novel!

3. Let myself off the hook. For the last several years I've put everything I have into trying to have a baby, I've given up a job and just everything in my life has been about trying to get pregnant and I have found that I'm not only way to wrapped up in it but I'm also measuring my self worth on my ability or inability as the case seems to be on having a baby. I have to let myself off this hook on this one. This is probably going to be my biggest challenge this year.


Monday, February 1, 2010

The Challenges are Back!

Many of you may remember that last year me and my mom worked on weekly challenges from Elsie Flannigan's book but towards the end of 2009 we got lazy about the challenges and I slacked off much more then I should have. But my mom nagged...ahem... I mean urged me to get started again. This time we are using Scrapbooks Etc. Page Planner for ideas and challenges. We will be going back to Elsie's book and using various other books and magazines for ideas and challenges so we can keep them fresh and hopefully keep us on track!

Our first challenge we did was page 48 in the magazine, we
had to back photos with strips of paper and or ribbon. This is something I've been wanting to try for a long time but I've always been afraid that my papers wouldn't match, that the ribbon would wrinkle - all excuses and none very good ones. So I was really eager to get this one done!

I played with my title on this one playing with the word Eerie to fit my needs and the photo. I used Halloween paper, ribbon and embellishments that I've been holding on to for that perfect layout and I used the wrist bands they give out at Mickey's Not So Scary Hall
oween Party. It was the first time I actually used an event bracelet though I of course save them every time haha!! I tilted the layout to make it even more playful!



I love my mom's take on this layout. She used a beautiful photo taken on a foggy day in Colonial Williamsburg, I love that my mom stuck with the sketch and did a lot of doodling on the page it turned out incredible. She used some great papers and I love love love the corrugated letters Mom used on her title - good thing I love them so much since Mom included some in my birthday present!!




I hope to have the next challenge posted by Friday so stay tuned!!!



About Me

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I live in Champions Gate, FL with my husband and our four fur babies (3 cats and 1 dog)I spend my time either being creative or trying to get the creative juices flowing. I love to cook, go for swims and take the dog for long walks.